The Good Life (Beatitudes)
Matthew 5:1-10
Blessed are the Persecuted
May 30, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
Rejoice when you’re persecuted for my sake, because that means you’re living the blessed life, Jesus says. Well, that’s a challenging word to swallow at first pass. But that’s what Jesus says as he closes out the Beatitudes. Maybe the blessed life - the God-life, is far different than what our world says is the good life. Our Savior said that we’d have hardships in this world, but to take heart, as He has overcome the world. Here’s his reminder to ‘ride with him’ no matter what and we’ll end up with him no matter what. It’s also an invitation to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, enduring so much more than us.
Blessed are the Peacemakers
May 23, 2021 • Pastor Lyle Thompson
Jesus tells His followers, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” But being people of peace in today’s culture can be challenging. Fortunately, Paul gives us insight into this in Romans 14. We look through ways we can keep the peace based on Paul’s letter to the Romans, even in the midst of disagreement.
Blessed are the Pure
May 16, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
In a world that searches for purity in things we consume, things on the outside, Jesus challenges us to pursue purity on the inside of us. The pure in heart will be blessed to see God, not only in the life to come, but more and more in this one. Purity comes from faith in the gift of God through Jesus. We’re to follow His lead in living with singleness of heart - living an undivided life where no part of us is compartmentalized off from the Lordship and leadership of Christ.
Blessed are the Merciful
May 9, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
In the kingdom of God, mercy matters! Those who have experienced divine mercy are themselves shaped and fashioned into merciful people. This takes God’s transformational power working within us, as it’s not natural to be merciful. Jesus shares his mercy with us so that we can become merciful. Mercy is action oriented; it’s not just a philosophy to believe or a concept to understand - mercy’s got gestures and activity to it. It’s a comfort to know that God’s mercy meets us NEW every morning.
Blessed are the Hungry
May 2, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
Humanity has an appetite and it’s not just for food. We’ve been created with cravings, but when our cravings are for other things than God first and foremost, our appetites can get us sideways. Our longings can go unfulfilled and unsatisfied. Jesus challenges us to hunger and thirst for God and the ways of God in order to ultimately experience a life that’s filled and satisfied in Him.
Blessed are the Sad
April 18, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
Sadness is something we most naturally try to avoid or escape. But perhaps it’s in mourning the brokenness within me, within the world, leaning into Christ to receive his comfort, where some of our best spiritual growth can occur. And when we receive God’s comfort, we’re to pass it along to others who are struggling. It’s realizing that mourning is inevitable, but it is also temporary thanks to Jesus.
Blessed are the Spiritually Bankrupt
April 11, 2021 • Pastor Jack Schull
The Beatitudes set forth the blessings God gives to those he is working in—blessings given not as a reward for our merit, but as a gift of His grace. Here is a Christian value system and God’s kingdom ethical standard—all of which are often at odds with those of the non-Christian world in which humanity functions. Blessed are those that recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and thus their need for dependency upon Christ and his gifts of grace. They will experience the God-life and a true good life.